This bill modifies Iowa's urban renewal tax rules to ensure that property taxes collected for emergency medical services are not used to pay off municipal debt or fund low-income housing projects. Under the new provisions, these specific emergency medical service taxes must be collected from all taxable property within the district without being diverted to special funds for urban renewal. The changes apply to property taxes due in fiscal years starting on or after July 1, 2027.
This bill (SF 2352) modifies Iowa eviction procedures for residential tenants who pose a "clear and present danger" to health or safety. Landlords may now seek immediate removal by a peace officer after a 3-day notice, without a court order, if the officer provides a sworn written affirmation of the danger and no exemptions apply. It also sets a strict 30-day maximum timeline for eviction court cases involving residential property, prohibiting courts from extending this period unless authorized by law. These changes aim to streamline evictions while ensuring tenants can contest termination in court. The bill applies to eviction actions starting July 1, 2026.
HF 2541 modifies Iowa law to restrict local governments' ability to create more comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinances than the state's Civil Rights Act of 1965. It removes a current provision allowing cities to enact laws that cover broader categories of discrimination or unfair practices than the state act. This means cities and local governments in Iowa can no longer pass ordinances that address more types of discrimination or have different protections than those defined in the state's Civil Rights Act. The bill directly affects municipal lawmaking authority within Iowa's civil rights framework.
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Local Government
HF 2618 repeals Iowa's "smart planning principles" (sections 18B.1 and 18B.2), which required local governments and state agencies to consider 10 specific guidelines in planning, zoning, and development decisions. The bill removes these requirements from state code, eliminating the obligation for cities, counties, and state agencies to reference or apply these principles when creating comprehensive plans, zoning regulations, or infrastructure projects. It also deletes related references from other sections of Iowa law governing regional planning (28I.4), airport zoning (329.3), and local development regulations (335.5, 414.3). This change directly affects how local governments approach land use and development planning across Iowa.
HF 2386 allows Iowa cities to require the first buyer of a single-family home in a new housing development to live in the home as their primary residence for one year after purchase. Cities may impose fines of up to 25% of the home’s fair market value for violations, but must include a good-faith sale exemption if the owner needs to sell during the occupancy period. The bill defines "new housing development" as homes sold for the first time, including newly built properties under city-developer agreements, and specifies "occupy" means physically living in the home as a residence. This bill directly affects first-time homebuyers in new developments and gives cities a regulatory tool to address potential investor speculation.
SF 2307 establishes "felony rental vandalism" for tenants or occupants who cause over $1,000 in damage to rental properties through criminal mischief or intentional pest infestations. It classifies this as a felony, requiring courts to notify health and human services departments of convictions. The bill blocks eligibility for state supplementary assistance (like housing aid) until the offender pays full restitution to the landlord or completes jail time, except for child assistance or emergency medical aid. It also extends this ineligibility to federal housing assistance under Section 8 of the Housing Act, where federal law permits, without risking state funding loss.
This bill (HF 2636) changes Iowa's zoning rules to make it harder for cities to change land use districts. It requires property owners within 200 feet of a proposed change to collectively sign a written protest representing 20% of the affected property's area before a public hearing. If such a protest is filed, the city council must then vote by a two-thirds majority (instead of three-fourths) to approve the zoning change. The bill directly affects nearby property owners who can block changes and city councils that must follow the new voting threshold. It aims to give more local property owners influence over zoning decisions.
This bill amends Iowa law to restrict cities and local governments from creating ordinances that provide broader anti-discrimination protections than the state's Civil Rights Act of 1965. It removes language allowing local governments to adopt stricter rules on unfair or discriminatory practices than the state law covers. The change requires all local ordinances to align strictly with the state's existing protections, which cover employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit based on protected characteristics. This directly affects cities and counties by limiting their ability to enact more expansive local anti-discrimination measures. The bill does not create new protections but ensures local laws do not exceed the scope of the state's civil rights framework.
HF 2148 eliminates Iowa's "smart planning principles" by repealing Chapter 18B of the Iowa Code, which previously required local governments to consider 10 specific planning guidelines in their comprehensive plans and zoning decisions. This bill directly affects cities and counties across Iowa, removing a mandatory requirement to incorporate these principles when developing or updating land-use plans, zoning regulations, or infrastructure projects. Key provisions include deleting references to the smart planning principles from multiple sections of Iowa law and repealing the foundational sections (18B.1 and 18B.2) that mandated their use. As a result, local governments will no longer need to formally consider these specific principles during planning processes, shifting planning authority to local discretion without state-mandated guidelines.
HF 92 modifies Iowa's urban renewal law by changing which property tax revenue funds urban renewal projects. It specifies that taxes for emergency medical services (under Chapter 422D) are excluded from the revenue pool used for urban renewal financing and low/moderate income housing assistance. The bill ensures that only certain property taxes - excluding those for emergency medical services, school levies, and other specific programs - are allocated to the municipality's special fund for urban renewal projects and housing. This change applies to property taxes due in fiscal years starting July 1, 2026.
